Diary of A Wimpy Kid 3 and 4

So sometimes I go to the library and pick up every single book they have out on display.  It's embarrassing how much I like books.  Thankfully, my library has self-checkout.  Especially, when I feel like a creeper because I'm checking out books like Wimpy Kid.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is the third book in the series.  The story line according to the back of the book states that Greg's dad has had enough and unless Greg can toughen up quick, it's off to military school for the summer.  However, that didn't actually happen until about 80% through the book.

The book read like an actual kid's diary, with no overarching story to hold it together.  But that was okay.  It was the same obnoxious humor that made me (and everyone else) like the first two books.  However, it was still funny and fresh and even though Greg can be totally annoying, I loved watching his flawed logic.

These books definitely appeal to all ages and the third installment especially felt more like a kid's book for adults than an actual kid's book.  This probably isn't a book that I will push into the hands of my nephew, because what makes it so funny is Greg's complete inability to change.


Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days felt more like a kid's book.  The story explored Greg's summer vacation, fights with best friends, and his relationship with his dad.  It had a lot more substance to it than the third book, but it was still fun and funny and easy to read over a single cup of coffee.

I'll check out book five from the library one of these days, because even though these books are basically the same every time, they don't bore me yet.  And for adults out there who like this series, check out the You Damn Kid! archives.

The Name of the Star

Life has unfortunately been very busy, as it occasionally gets.  I wish I had time to do a longer post on The Name of the Star, because it was one of my favorites so far this year.  But I know that if I put it off that I'll never get to it at all, so instead of a normal post, a summery and list of why I love this book:

I don't think that this paragraph is spoilery, but I think it has more than the cover copy, so forgive me if it is.  Also, read at your own risk.  Rory is an American teen at boarding school in London.  After a near death experience, she gains the ability to see ghosts, one of which becomes infatuated with her.  It wouldn't be so bad, but this ghost just happens to be inciting mass panic by running around the city impersonating Jack the Ripper.

-This novel is hilarious.  Maureen Johnson is consistently one of the funniest writers both in her novels and on twitter.  Dark humor is my favorite and it is one of Johnson's specialties.  This book realizes all of the dark humor I love so much in Johnson's tweets.
-This book is scary. And creepy. Seriously, I had to sleep with the lights on.  I wish I was joking.
-The characters are wonderful.  There are so many weird characters, but they all seem larger-than-life in a completely realistic and believable way.  Also, the library ghost is my favorite.
-Romance.  This book is funny and terrifying and yet it still had me blushing and giggling at all the right points as Rory made out with her Brit.
-This book is the reason I quit the readathon early.  It wasn't boring--this book has spectacular pacing--but it was so perfectly balanced and enjoyable (like a great cup of southern sweet tea) that I wanted to give it the attention it deserved.  It was totally worth it.
-Rippermania. This story explores the role of the media in how we as a society view violent crimes.  Johnson raises many interesting questions and it is especially fitting when talking about Jack the Ripper (the name was given to him by The Star newspaper, which is what made him so famous).

Better posts will resume as soon as I work on my time management skills.  In the mean time, I'm thrilled this is a series.

Withering Tights

Anyone who has read this blog regularly should know that one of my favorite book series is The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson by Louise Rennison.  I get depressed every time I reread it, because it's over.  But the first book in a new companion series came out this summer.  My feelings about it are mixed.

Talulah Casey is off to spend her summer at a performing arts school.  With new friends, more boys than I can remember, and a very real chance that she will be the only one not invited back for the regular term, Talulah is going to have to pick up her game if she wants me to like her more than Cousin Georgia.

Georgia Nicholson is one of my all time favorite literary characters and it is not fair to Talulah for me to compare the two.  But I can't help it.  Both books are funny, but every time I laughed in Withering Tights it was bittersweet because it made me miss Georgia and Dave the Laugh and Jazzy Spazzy and Sven (ah, Sven!).  Eventually, I got over it and was able to really enjoy the story.

Rennison does a great job of capturing the fast friendships formed when a bunch of girls are thrown together in an unfamiliar environment and I loved the mean girl in this book way better than Wet Lindsey from Georgia's story, because she seemed more developed and was a completely different kind of mean girl.  As for the boys... there were a lot of them and I can't decide who I want Talulah to end up with.  Dave the Laugh (the ultimate literary love interest, right up there with Cricket and Marcus) doesn't come into Georgia's story until book two, so I'm sure Rennison will make things a little clearer on the romantic front in the next book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It took a little getting used to, because it wasn't Georgia, but it made me laugh.  Talulah is a little bit more relatable than Georgia.  She's shy, but somehow always ends up the center of attention.  I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Write-A-Thon

So, I'm having a little write-a-thon, which you can check out on the write-a-thon blog.  I try not to be super weird on this blog, but I have no such reservations on that one.  Check it out, join in, or have your own.  In the mean time, I'll update this post with word counts.

START: 3089
Hour One: 3264
Hour Two: 3723
Hour Three: 4203
Hour Four: 4585
Hour Five: Break for a pampered chef party and food.  Still many, many words to write. 4585
Hour Six: Making Apple Tartletts 4585
Hour Seven: Eating Apple Tartletts 4585
Hour Eight: 4585... still.  But I enjoyed those Aple Tartletts.  Now to write like mad.
Hour Nine: 4891
Hour Ten: 5415
Hour Eleven: 5795
Hour Twelve: 5910 (but I ate a really yummy BLT and had a cup of coffee)
Hour Thirteen: 6395 (and it would go a lot faster if I was either A-a lawyer or B-not writing about a trial)
Hour Fourteen: 7111
Hour Fifteen: 7268
Hour Sixteen: 7541 (and I have resolved to write until 10,000 words before sleep seduces me)
Hour Seventeen: 7850
Hour Eighteen: 8114, but I took a shower (I also desperately need a snack)
Hour Nineteen: 8369.  Now just desperately tired.  One more hour or until I hit 10,000 words.  Whichever comes first unfortunately.
Hour Twenty: 8873.  The depressing thing about getting old is that I can't get through all-nighters anymore.  I used to do it on the regular, which isn't exactly healthy, but there you are.  I'm actually really happy with what I got done.  This story is much more challenging to write than I expected, but I wrote over 5000 words today.  And that is a decent chunk.


Aaaand, I thought it would be fun to share my writing space, because at the moment, I've got a good one.  The walls are empty, but only because I need to buy picture frames.  Soon the walls will be covered with: inspirational quotes, dream catchers, and framed pictures of tree houses.  I love tree houses.

This is my "desk".  Really it's a very long table that I can spread out all my stuff on.  Notice that I've created a wonderful little tea station on one side.  Also the blanket over the chair is because this room is suuuuuper cold.  Also, it doesn't have shades.  I live in the woods, but I'm not sure if that makes it more or less creepy.

One wall is nothing but closets, because, technically, the room is an office.  I have filled it with all kinds of office supplies, but don't think you guys really need a picture of it.  Below is my shelf of non-fiction.  Film and writing books are the top shelf.  They only fit because I lost a ton of books in my move.  That stack of stuff on the table is more books and things to hang on the walls.  I'll do it... eventually.

And my favorite part of this space.  A big whiteboard that I made by applying white board paper directly to the wall.  It's huge.  The empty space is my planning for Nanowrimo.  On the left are some notes for restructuring my screenplay and a list of projects I want to work on.  I like lists.  On the floor in front is a balance board.  I like to play on it and stare at my board.  Because, then it doesn't feel like procrastination.

Lola and the Boy Next Door

I expected very good things from Lola and the Boy Next Door, but I had been waiting so long that I couldn't bring myself to start reading it when it was finally delivered to my kindle.  I was too afraid that all my built up expectations could not be met.  When I finally did start reading, it was even better than I could have imagined.  It's one of those books you love to hate because the ending is so fantastic, but still an ending.

Lola has an obsession with costume that would put Claudia from the Babysitter's club to shame.  Living with her two gay dads in San Francisco, she has an older rocker boyfriend, Max, and a fear that Cricket, the boy who broke her heart two years earlier, will move back in next door.  Well, obviously, he does and hilarity and heartbreak ensue.

Lola was great.  She was funny and spunky and I loved her obsession with costume.  Like in Anna and the French Kiss, I was immediately pulled in to Lola's life on the very first page.  Perkins knows how to start a story.  She also knows how to tell a story.  Lola had all the wonderfulness of Anna and the French Kiss, but it was it's own story.  It was unique and stand alone, but I was so glad Anna and Etienne were in it.

Cricket is adorable and perfect (for Lola) and sweet and I think he may have replaced Marcus Flutie in the number one spot on my list of literary crushes.  Not even Etienne did that.  I loved Etienne, I loved him for Anna, but I want Cricket for myself (Sorry, Lola).


I realize that this entire review boils down to: I have a literary crush on the boy in this novel, so let me add that all of Perkins' characters are well-rounded, whole people.  Once again, her setting is more than just a place for the story to happen, but a living, breathing world that allows that story to happen and makes it feel real.

Yes, it is a romance with a ton of giggly goodness, but it also deals with real issues--obviously, Lola is adopted, but her mother is a most-of-the-time homeless psychic who is still in her life.  Cricket's sister is a successful figure skater and Perkins' portrayal of the stress, pressure, and obsession is perfect.  Cricket's entire family revolves around the competitive figure skating world, which often leaves Cricket pushed to the side.


Now there is nothing for me to do, but wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After.  If Stephanie Perkins continues growing as a writer (which I expect she will), then it will probably make me spontaneously combust in it's awesomeness.

Ten Thousand Saints

Ten Thousand Saints isn't the sort of book I normally pick up, but it was a gift and I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed it.  Set in the 1980s, Henderson paints a picture of both the drug and straight-edge (no drugs/drinking/sex/etc) scenes in New York.

It's 1987 and Jude is just a sixteen year old living in Vermont and obsessed with getting high and drunk.  When his best friend, Teddy, overdoses, Jude moves in with his drug dealer dad in New York City.  There he befriends Johnny, Teddy's older brother (now an underground tatoo artist), who introduces him to a straight edge lifestyle and the hardcore music scene (CBGBs!).  They find out that an aquaintance, Eliza, is carrying Teddy's baby, and the three form a kind of family and run away together.

I'm not sure how great a summary that is.  It's more like an introduction, because a lot more happens.  This book is not short on drama!  For one, Eliza is Jude's father's girlfriend's daughter.  For another, Eliza and Jude like each other, but Eliza marries Johnny (who isn't a minor) even though Johnny is secretly gay!  Daytime television has nothing on Henderson.

The book is beautifully written, which is good because all of the characters are incredibly hard to like.  Jude devotes himself to drugs, then with an equal passion to the straight edge scene.  He's not even remotely likeable until the very end when he learns balance.  I enjoyed reading the book even though the characters consistantly made choices that made me want to bang my head against the wall.

The portrayal of New York and the hardcore scene was also supurb.  I felt like I was really experiencing 1987 New York and at times could feel the bass drum.  I'm not convinved that the straight-edge movement was portrayed any better than the drug scene, but as I am neither a drug addict nor straight-edge, this did not bother me.  Books that deal with sobriety so often demonize drugs and alcohol that this seemed like a more realistic portrayal.  That isn't to say that drugs are good, I just think it is unrealistic when "issue" books deal with addiction to anything and all the sudden everything is better.  I think addiction is a symptom, not the source.

The end was abrupt.  Jude resolved his guilt about the death of his friend and became a balanced person, but that was the only storyline that was resolved.  The very end was set in 2006 and it reminded me of the epilogue from Harry Potter: it seemed like it was there to say "It's okay", but you're still left with a thousand unanswered questions and feelings of guilt that the ending wasn't fulfilling.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I won't be running out to buy any other novels by Henderson.